Swimming belt



393i M. STELLMACHER 1,870,535

SWIMMING BELT Filed ma 2a, 1928 q fl l PIC-3.3 FIG 4 I 1 m EB 1-! m y 5 Jnvei zior:

c oni'rso s'TATss PATENT OFFICE srnnnnnonnn, os nnnnm, osmium Application filed m 2a, 1928, semi m. comm; and in Germany Zions i, 1927.

g noticeab y distinguishable from an athletic belt.

. In this consists "the exceptional velue of the invention. It enables aquatic sporting men, tohrists, and anyone who is fond of the i 15 water to wear st all times without it being noticed a swimming and life-saving device on the body as e part of the clothing, the device therefore always being at bend in cases of nrg'ent need.

n Personal vanity, which hinders many per- 7 sonswho are fond of the Water, particularly owners of aquatic sporting vessels, from perticipating in one of the known and usually noticeable floating and life-saving devices, as has already occasioned many misadventures. There is accordingly an urgent need for 9. means of taking into account this purely human weakness, and this means is provided by the invention hereinafter described in dem tail in various constructional forms.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, wherein 1 shows the device as en-athletic belt in its condition.

Fig. 2 shows the device in on inflated condi tion.

Fig. 3 shows the buckle part of the belt in s. special constructional form with e spe ciel longitudinal fold, and

Fig. shows the other part of the belt in a further constructional form and wit-hon other longitudinal fold.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate s constructional formic. which a. tubular body a closed at both ends is constructed as a girdle or belt. It will be seen from Fig. What this is efi'ected by one end of the tube oveslapping the other end to o considerable extent.

In this instance the one end 9 of the toto enable it to attain elar'ger volume of air the tubular body may be folded as desired for instance as illustrated in the sections u and m shown in Figures 8 and 4;.

Figure 1 shows the device in its normal form, adapted to be worn as a belt. figure 2 shows the floating and life-saving device produced therefrom by expansion and infiw tion, the belt being widened right to its stop is, thereby enabling it to he slipped under the arms, so that it forms a thoroughly reliable supporting body in theweter.

The piece of tubing h, which is provided with a closure member such as e plug, enables the device to be inflated. This piece of tubing is arranged on the inside oi end of the tubular body connected with the clamping buckle, so that it is covered "on when the device is being worn as a belt. Figaro l the piece of tubing is shown hanging down, in I order that it may be visible end thereby esslot in the comprehension the device.

A holding member is else provided, which, when the device is being worn es s belt, holds the overlapping end of the tubular body on the other end.

A string fastened the buckle 2', end vents the swimming body.

I claim is rl. A combined life preserver and belt coin sisting of an elongated and tubular inflatable body normally iolduble in the longitudinal direction and closed at both ends to serve as a. belt, e combined inflating and closing memher for said inflatable body, it buckle connected to one of the end portions of the tubulsr body for receiving the other end portion of the body to permit the some to be adjusted in the neighbourhood of at over the hind, Diffs,"

device slipping ofi the m slipping is i to any waist measurement with the end portions overlap ing, an abutment on the other end rtion o the bod for coacting with the buc e to prevent sai end portion sligpin through the buckle when the body is in atecfi and a olding member for retaining the overlap ing rtions of the tubular body toget er w en the device is used as a belt or preserver. 2. A flexible tubular bathing belt of impermeable fabric, said belt having its external surface normally held in folds extending longitudinally of the belt and havin inturned leats extending in opposite irections to orm a girdle of narrow width adapted for supporting or confinin a garment and expansible b inflation to orm a buoyant belt for floating the wearer. 3. A buo ant bathing belt comprising a longitudina ly pleated tubular external section having a valved aperture therein, means preventing the expansion of the end sections of said pleats, straps fixed to the folded ends of said tubular section, and fastening means 3 for connecting said straps.

4. A buo ant bathing belt comprising an external tu ular section creased along a lon- 'tudinal fold means reventing the unfoldmg of the folded an s of said section and 3 fastening means connected with the ends of said tubular section.

In testimony whereof I have signed my" name to this specification.

MAX STELLMACHER. 

